Fsf-friends February 2003

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

17 participants
50 discussions

Re: What can young Indian techies work on?
by FN 13 Feb '03

13 Feb '03

This is RMS's suggestion on the area which the Free Software movement needs help on. If anyone could help, it would be great. FN On Tue, 11 Feb 2003, Richard Stallman wrote: > Okay, what would you'll need? FN > > We need free Java replacement libraries. > We need graphical apps for many jobs--see the GNU task list > for a long list. We need speach recognition, and better speech > generation. >

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Cheers
by CK Raju 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

Cheers Raju Mathur for your appearance in CNBC. CK Raju

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Goa to spend ten million on Microsoft software...
by FN 12 Feb '03

12 Feb '03

Need one say any more? They authorities were unwilling to provide a Rs 100 book with each computer, but they could give Microsoft Rs 3000 for each computer! -- FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- This is from DIGITAL GOA, an IT newspaper published from here... FN I am posting the following update on cyberage scheme which appeared in the latest (February) issue of Digital Goa (published today). Niraj CYBERAGE SCHEME UPDATE Cyberage students will get Internet, educational CDs Rs one crore spent on the software alone Hardly 100 computers are distributed so far under the Cyberage student scheme, launched on December 19. However, as per a senior official in the Education Department, the department will try and finish atleast 80 per cent of the computers by February 20. The delay was due to the late finalization of a deal with the Microsoft for installing Windows operating system on the computers, the official added. "The work of installing operating system is going on in full swing at the factory itself." It may be noted that the government had floated cyberage student scheme under which every XIth Science student in Goa will get a free computer. This year 3,000 students will be benefited from the scheme. (For more details of the scheme read the last issue of Digital Goa) Formal functions will be organized in each taluka to hand over computers to the students in the coming weeks. The government negotiated with Microsoft for the licenced copy of WindowsXP, MS Office and McAfee virus scan for Rs 3,090/- through an agent -- Apex Computer and Engineering Services. The Microsoft had earlier quoted Rs. 6,970 per system for the package having combined retail market value of Rs 26,000. Pertinently, the government will shell out whopping (appx) Rs one crore on the software itself. The total budget allocated for this scheme for this year is Rs 10 crores. While justifying the decision of loading windows O/S as against Linux O/S, which is absolutely free, the officer said that there were complaints from the parents and students whose systems were loaded with Linux operating system. "They are more familiar with Windows. I am getting so many calls everyday complaining that Linux was difficult to use", he said. When asked whether XI Science students would be in a position to make best use of these computers, he disclosed the government's plans to provide educational CDs and internet connection to the beneficiaries of this scheme at the subsidized rates. "We will tie-up with BSNL to give internet connection to these students at nominal rates. We are also in the process of establishing CD libraries in every higher secondary schools on all subjects." CYBERAGE STUDENT SCHEME SURVEY We posed the following question to the host of IT professionals and businessmen and others to know their view on the Cyberage scheme. They were given 14 options to choose from. Sadly, we received only four responses. However, these four opinions can be considered as the representative voices of the IT community, given the responders� stature and involvement in the Goa�s IT sector. Obviously, it is a mixed response. However, it is fairly clear from all the four responses that there is no objection to the cyberage scheme per se. but the questions are raised as regard to the methodology, timing and the level at which it is implemented. Only two options got more than one vote -- If the 3000 computers were shared among 300 schools, we would have got better results and XI Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC. Interestingly, options No. 1,2,9,11 and 13 did not have any takers. What do you think of the Cyberage scheme for students in Goa (under which Std XI Science students get an almost-free computer) and its implementation? 1. Great idea, great implementation : poor idea, yet to know about implementation 2. Great idea, implementation could be better: 3. Great idea, poor implementation 4. Engineering students given these computers could be better off 5. Why not give computers to teachers too/instead of students? 6.If the 3000 computers were shared among 300 schools, we would have got better results 7. Tender terms kept out smaller players 8. XI Science is the wrong time at which to give a student a PC 9. Transparency in computer deals a still an elusive goal for Goa 10. Software, OS, optimal issues still remain pending 11. Why criticize a good initiative? 12. This is a good start 13. More views from professionals could have been incorporated 14. We still quite don't know what's happening... 15. It will adversely affect the IT business community with a drop in computer sales. Dr V. V. Kamat Faculty, Department of Computer Science & Tech., Goa University ANSWER: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 14 Albert D. Gouveia Scientist NIO Dona Paula ANSWER 12 Comtech Systems Option 6 Ashley Delaney Software/Hardware Consultant Saligao Answers 7,8 and 10 ------------------------ END ---------------------

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LinuxForYou... what's in issue # 1
by FN 11 Feb '03

11 Feb '03

India's first GNU/Linux magazine made it to the newsstands recently. The first, inaugural February 2003 issue contains: ON THE CD------------------------------------------------- * Knoppix with bundled software (Open Office, KOffice, Mozilla Navigator, Mozilla Mail, Konqueror, GIMP, Ksnapshot (screen capture), XFig (geomatrical figure editor), QCAD (CAD software), XMMS (autio tool), games, KGeo and KStars (educational), KDevelop (the "Linux cousin of VC++) NEWS REPORTS---------------------------------------------- * Axis (Mass., US) launches Linux system-on-a-chip * Hyper-threading can speed up Linux by 51 per cent HT makes a single processor behave like two logical ones. * Hong Kong trio unveils Chinese GNU/Linux OS for mobile devices * Red Hat presepares GNU/Linux for technical workstations * Ark -- another distribution for the desktop "for the masses" * Linux ver 2.6 (kernel) by first half of 2003 * Sony, Matsushita plan GNU/Linux audio-video software * Red Hat shifts to carrier-grade * New IP videophone features embedded GNU/Linux OS * Cellphone makers may go the GNU/Linux way too INDIA NEWS------------------------------------------------ * Font contest winners spurn Microsoft, go LGPL * GNU/Linux-based handhelds -- Simputer and Kaii from B'lore * Let's make an 'apnalinux' -- creating one's own distro using Anaconda, and tweaking a RedHat distribution (how-to guide) * VIA C3 800 MHz, 20GB HDD, 64MB Hynix RAM, Asus motherboard, Aztec modem, FDD and headphones e-pc for Rs 11,990 and above without monitor. * Cygsoft Inc's ManageIP -- network management solution Free trial online at www.cygsoft.com * Intrusion detection software from nSecure www.nsecure.net * LG's GNU/Linux-based MY PC Rs 33,900 for basic model and Rs 36,500 for the multimedia model (P4, 128MBRam, 40GB, LG 15" monitor, LG 52XCDRom, optical mouse, keyboard, speakers) * LX50 server from Sun Microsystem * Mithi Software, Pune offers Connect Server for GNU/Linux. * Kalculate -- an Indian accounting package for GNU/Linux * TechnoInfosys brings GNU/Linux-based net management system Check www.technoinfosys.com This comes from Navi Mumbai. * Storage strategy software for GNU/Linux from Veritas, Delhi * Website (Kerala) offers Dodobase, instant web catalog publishing product. www.websight-tech.com * Star Office 6.0, Sun Microsystem's affordable software... * Bicnet offers eBiz integrated solution (pre-sales management, sales catalogue, shopping cart, auction floor, general ledger and financial accounting, inventory, e-recruitment, customer relationship mgt) www.bicserve.com * Rolta's security and messaging products for Indian corporate networks www.rolta.com * Octopus (Mumbai) offers complete enterprise mgt solution * E-mail manager from Data Impex (Delhi) * RTLinux gains support in India * Indian govt's move to "let in [GNU]Linux" FEATURES-------------------------------------------------- * GNU/Linux@Home -- it can coexist with Windows * KDE's KOffice -- an office suite that delivers * GNU/Linux certification -- The right choice? * Introducing RedHat 8.0 * SCO Linux 4.0 * Websites that offer more info on GNU/Linux (www.tldp.org The Linux Documentation Project, www.linuxlinks.com, www.linux.org, www.redhat.com, www.linux-india.org) * What's Knoppix? * Knoppix -- software bounty * Guide to running Knoppix * Shape and trim your Linux kernel * Red Hat's installation blues * Ten tips to make your life easier * What is a diskless PC? * Developer's basics: A world of shells... * Penguin programmer (developers basics) * Overview of GNU/Linux for the embedded appln developer * "Govt must declare [GNU]Linux the official OF of India," Sudhir Gandotra, CEO Indserve InfoTech * Is [GNU]Linux good for government? * Linux TCO -- a bitter harvest? * Penguin soup is the soul of IS managers * GNUCorner: Open Source -- a brief journey through its times (Err... could someone explain what GNU has to do with Open Source? Wasn't one trying to get away from the other?FN) MISCELLANEOUS--------------------------------------------- * CERTIFICATION: Linux-based products, tested and tried by LFY Lab, will earn the 'Linux Friendly' certification. Other common IT products that work without any hassles to get a 'Tested OK' mark. * EDITORIAL: Initial discussions about LINUX For You raised a few eyebrows, accompanied by soul-searching questions... Key question -- why a magazine on [GNU]Linux? (Many times accompanied by -- are you going anti-Microsoft?) Pay Rs 50 (that's the cost, including the CD) and see if you like it. Don't forget to send in your suggestions to efylinux1(a)electronicsforu.com -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference

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NEWS: Canadian campaigner for open knowledge access in India
by FN 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Canadian campaigner for open knowledge access in India By Papri Sri Raman, Indo-Asian News Service Chennai, Feb 10 (IANS) John Willinsky teaches Shakespeare in Canada but he's here promoting a world "where knowledge is free". Willinsky, pacific professor of literature and technology at the University of British Columbia and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is now on a tour of India, campaigning for open access to knowledge. As the science of information technology advances, "people's access to knowledge is actually decreasing instead of increasing", he says. For example, he recalls that the library of the Agriculture University in Bangalore subscribed to 1,000 journals in 1956. Today it can afford just 600 such academic publications. "The reason more and more libraries are finding it difficult to provide printed or online copies of journals is because big publishers have increased their costs manifold. There are online journals that cost at least $3 to just access once, and are made available for just a few hours at a time. "Only a limited number of academic papers are available online free of cost for an interested reader to access." Researchers in developing countries are devoid of a large volume of literature available on a subject. High costs and copyright rules prevent access. "Although new technology has made access possible, fewer academic journals are available to the reader," Willinsky says. He has been lobbying this week at the Indian Institute of Science and the National Centre for Scientific Information in Bangalore and at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai for online publication of academic journals under a public-funded Canadian project called the Public Knowledge Project. In Bangalore and Chennai he has also been demonstrating the software he and his graduate and undergraduate students developed last year for anyone who wants to put an academic journal online. For both the reader and the host, the access is free and response is automated, he told his audience at a lecture organised by the Computer Society of India and the Madras Library Association this weekend. Explaining how he got interested in the issue of "open access and an open source system", Willinsky said copyright laws of big publishing houses like Reed Elsevier, which publishes more than 60 percent of the academic journals in America and Europe, bothered him. In a year, they can hold the copyright to academic articles published in 2,000 academic journals, the professor said. All universities in the West require faculty members to publish their research papers, thesis and other academic work in journals. "Their promotions, recognition and continuation of jobs depend on the number of publications in a time frame of five to seven years," the professor explains. This forces scholars to give away their intellectual property rights, Willinsky told his Indian audience. Big publishing houses like Elsevier earned annual revenues up to $5.5 billon a decade ago. The work was obtained free from the scholars. According to the present rules of the intellectual property rights act, anything developed by a worker hired for a company belongs to the company because it conceives the project and provides facilities. However, the copyright belongs to the creator of the project or thesis and to the public if it is supported by public funds, especially in universities. The study for public benefit is sold to the publisher unless it is 70 or 100 years after the death of the academic. This got Willinsky thinking of how much it costs to publish an academic journal online. His first search took him to a publisher who said it could be done free. At the end of his search list was the Cornell University that said it costs as much as $2.7 million to publish an academic journal online. With such varied result, the professor got nine computer students to develop a software that enabled people to put academic journals online free in a secure and formatted manner. The process cost about $65,000 but once the software was developed, it was made available free of cost. The Public Knowledge Project is funded by a global security and sustainability grant for knowledge exchange and technology research capabilities of developing nations from the MacArthur Foundation. It explores how technology can be used to improve the professional and public value of scholarly research. "By bringing together researchers and librarians, it is investigating the social, economic, and technical issues entailed in the use of online infrastructure and public accessibility," said Willinsky. The project also seeks to integrate emerging standards for digital library access and document preservation, such as Open Archives and InterPARES, as well as for topic maps and doctoral dissertations, and helps develop knowledge management website prototypes. --Indo-Asian News Service

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[bytesforall_readers] News: Free Software rated high (fwd)
by FN 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

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Re: Invitation to join FSF
by CK Raju 10 Feb '03

10 Feb '03

Dear Shri Kamal Kumar Pal, Thanks for the reciprocation. You should have received intimation from FSF by now. Waiting to hear from you on FSF forum. Rgds, CK Raju On Friday 07 February 2003 04:15 am, Kamal Kumar Pal wrote: > Dear Mr. Raju, > Thank you very much for your mail. > I would love to do that. > Best regards, > Kamal Kumar Pal > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "CK Raju" <ckraju(a)zyberway.com> > To: <kamalpal(a)vsnl.com> > Cc: <fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in> > Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 7:30 AM > Subject: Invitation to join FSF > > > Dear Kamal Pal, > I request you to join the Free Software Foundation - India, for sharing > your views and experiences. > > Would you be gracious enough to throw light on your achievements, and your > interactions with corporates, so that we could be enlightened. > > Regards, > CK Raju, > KILA, Thrissur

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Invitation to join FSF
by CK Raju 09 Feb '03

09 Feb '03

Dear Kamal Pal, I request you to join the Free Software Foundation - India, for sharing your views and experiences. Would you be gracious enough to throw light on your achievements, and your interactions with corporates, so that we could be enlightened. Regards, CK Raju, KILA, Thrissur

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Bribing to be a Business Partner
by CK Raju 09 Feb '03

09 Feb '03

Going by the statements from Kamal Pal ( kamalpal(a)vsnl.com) of West Bengal, who has designed a GIS application on his own, the just revealed trend of corporates to sneak into the Government machinery with offers of a 'business partner' if Mr Kamal Pal withheld the development of the application, and its release to the Govt of India, appears to be quite disturbing. Requesting our journalists to get in touch with Shri Kamal Pal to dig out further details. If corroborated by Kamal Pal in public, this news can turn out to have huge ramifications elsewhere. CK Raju Thrissur

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PUNE: Symbiosis plans a GNU/Linux fest in mid-Feb
by FN 08 Feb '03

08 Feb '03

GNUnify! The All India Free Software Festival 16-February-2003 Venue: Symbiosis Vishwa Bhawan, Senapati Bapat Road, Ganesh Khind, Pune - 4. Time Themes Symbiosis Vishwa Bhawan 09:30-10:30 Welcome and Opening Ceremony Dr. S.B. Mujumdar (Chancellor SIEC Deemed University) 10:30-11:00 Morning Tea Break 11:00-11:40 IT Industry and GNU/Linux Mr. Atul Chitnis (CTO - Exocore Consulting) "Linux/OpenSource on Corporate Desktop" 11:40-12:20 Free Software in Education Dr. G. Sivakumar (Head of Computer Center - IIT Mumbai) "IIT Bombay's Network and Systems setup and the crtical role of GNU/Linux in it". 12:20-1:00 Prof. Jitendra Shah (Senior Lecturer - VJTI, Mumbai) "Free Software with Localisation in Education" 01:00-02:00 Lunch Break 02:00-02:40 Future Tech Mr. M Sasikumar (Senior Research Scientist - NCST) "A.I. Demystified" 02:40-03:20 * * * Made In India o Mr. Venky Hariharan (MediaLabs) and Mr. Guntupalli Karunakar (IndLinux) "GNU/Linux localisation and its usage, esp its relevance to our country." p Mr. Naba Kumar (Software Engineer - Belzabar Software Development India Pvt Ltd.) "Anjuta IDE for C,C++ on GNU/Linux" 03:20-04:00 Mr. Samyeer Metrani (Group Manager Embedded Systems - Encore Software Limited) "Simputer" 04:00-04:30 Tea Break 04:30-05:10 Government and GNU/Linux Dr. S.Ramakrishnan (Senior Director - Department of Information Technology - Government of India) 05:10-05:30 Introduction and Felicitation of Guru Dr. Nagarjuna (TIFR) Introduction to RMS Dr. T.M. Kanvinde (Director - SICSR) Felicitation 05:30-07:00 The Guru Speaks Mr. Richard Stallman (President and Founder of FSF) "The Free Software Movement and the GNU/Linux Operating System" 7:10-07:30 Free Software Song and Vote Of Thanks Students SICSR -- _____ _ _ _ | ___| __ ___ __| | ___ _ __(_) ___| | __ Freelance Journo, Goa India | |_ | '__/ _ \/ _` |/ _ \ '__| |/ __| |/ / http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | _|| | | __/ (_| | __/ | | | (__| < http://www.bytesforall.org |_| |_| \___|\__,_|\___|_| |_|\___|_|\_\ http://opennews.indianissues.org -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference

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Fsf-friends February 2003